FEAST OF SAINT MATTHIAS, APOSTLE AND MARTYR AND SAINT MICHAEL GARICOITS, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY MAY 14TH 2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (ASCENSION THURSDAY)| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/solemnity-of-the-ascension-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-ascension-thursday-2/

[This Solemnity is transferred to Sunday, May 17, 2026 in many dioceses across the United States and several parts of the world for pastoral reasons.]

THURSDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER | YEAR A | MAY 14, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/thursday-of-the-sixth-week-of-easter-year-a-may-14-2026/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | MAY 14, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-14th/

FEAST OF SAINT MATTHIAS, APOSTLE AND MARTYR AND SAINT MICHAEL GARICOITS, PRIEST

History of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 14, 2026 | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-may-14-2026/

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: Prayed in preparation for Pentecost. Begins tomorrow, Friday, May 15, 2026 – Saturday, May 23, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-novena-to-the-holy-spirit/

DAILY PRAYERS: St. Michael the Archangel Prayer; Regina Caeli Prayer; and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/st-michael-the-archangel-prayer-angelus-prayer-and-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy-prayer/

Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Apostolic Journey to Africa | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-updates-pope-leo-xivs-historic-apostolic-journey-to-africa/

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Greetings beloved family and Happy Feast of Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Alleluia! I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. On this day, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Matthias, the Apostle chosen by lot to complete the number of the Twelve. We also honor the memory of Saint Michael Garicoits, a dedicated priest who founded the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bétharram and served as a tireless teacher and defender of the faith. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to us of the intimacy of His love, calling us no longer slaves but friends. He reminds us that our faith is not a matter of our own choosing, but a result of His divine initiative: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you”. This theme of being chosen is beautifully enacted in the First Reading, where the early Church community prays for guidance to fill the office left by Judas. Through the drawing of lots, the Lord who knows the hearts of all points to Matthias, counting him among the Eleven. As we sing in the Responsorial Psalm that the Lord “raises up the lowly from the dust” to seat them with princes, let us reflect on our own specific callings. Whether we serve as teachers, craftsmen, or in quiet acts of daily service, we are appointed to bear fruit that will remain. May the intercession of Saint Matthias and Saint Michael Garicoits inspire us to remain in Christ’s love and find our complete joy in obeying His commandment to love one another. Amen. 🙏🏽

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (ASCENSION THURSDAY): The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord is celebrated on the 40th day after Easter Sunday, also called Ascension Thursday. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, and among the oldest and most solemn feasts on the liturgical calendar. The Feast of the Ascension commemorates the Ascension of Christ into heaven, according to Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:2. On this feast day, we remember the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven to the ‘right hand of the Father’. This feast day is important to Christians as the ascension shows that Jesus not only overcame death but that He will live forever. It falls ten days from the end of the Eastertide period, a period which is joyous in tone as Christians celebrate the “glorious risen Christ”. After Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead, He continued to appear to His disciples for a period of 40 days. After this time, with His Apostles gathered around Him on the Mount of Olives, Jesus was taken up bodily into heaven, as recorded in the Gospels. To comfort them in His physical absence, He promised to send them a Consoler and Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with them and to guide them into all truth until the end of the world.

In the Eastern Church this feast was known as analepsis, “the taking up”, and also as the episozomene, the salvation, denoting that by ascending into His glory, Christ completed the work of our redemption. The terms used in the West, ascensio and, occasionally, ascensa, signify that Christ was raised up by His own powers. Tradition designates Mount Olivet near Bethany as the place where Christ left the earth. The feast falls on Thursday. It is one of the Ecumenical feasts ranking with the feasts of the Passion, of Easter and of Pentecost among the most solemn in the calendar. The feast has a vigil and, since the fifteenth century, an octave which is set apart for a novena of preparation for Pentecost, in accordance with the directions of Leo XIII.

Traditionally the Ascension of Our Lord was held 40 days after Easter, falling on a Thursday. In the United States, the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia have retained the celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension on the proper Thursday. However in most dioceses in the United States and in many dioceses in the world the observance of the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to the following Sunday, this year it’s celebrated on May 17, 2026 superseding the 7th Sunday of Easter.

Save Us, Savior of the World 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Sixth Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle | May 14, 2026
Reading I: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Gospel: John 15:9-17

Gospel Reading ~ John 15:9-17

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.”

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you:  love one another.”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals the profound shift in our relationship with the Divine: we are moved from the status of slaves to friends. This reflection focuses on the Grace of Divine Election. Jesus makes it clear that “it was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” Our faith is not a product of our own searching or merit, but a response to a prior, unconditional love from the Father. By inviting us to remain in my love, Jesus provides the blueprint for a life of purpose, one that is rooted in the same obedience He showed the Father. This obedience is not a burden but the key to complete joy, transforming our actions from mere duty into a fruit-bearing mission.

The First Reading brings this concept of Divine Election into the practical life of the early Church as they fill the vacancy left by Judas. Standing in the midst of the believers, Peter leads the community in a process that balances human wisdom with total reliance on God. They specify the criteria, a witness to the Resurrection who has been with them since the baptism of John, but the final decision is left to the Lord “who knows the hearts of all.” Through the drawing of lots, Saint Matthias is chosen. This reminds us that in the Church, office and ministry are gifts of the Spirit rather than personal achievements. Matthias’s election fulfills the scripture that “another take his office,” ensuring the apostolic foundation remains whole.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 113) celebrates this mysterious way God works: “The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.” Our God is the one who “raises up the lowly from the dust” and lifts the poor from the dunghill to seat them with princes. This is the story of Matthias and, indeed, the story of every Christian. We are chosen from the world, not because of our high standing, but because of God’s desire to manifest His glory through our lives.

As we celebrate this Feast, let us reflect on the lots that have fallen in our own lives. Reflect today: Do you see your faith and your current responsibilities as a choice you made, or as a Divine appointment from Jesus? Are you remaining in His love daily, or are you trying to bear fruit while disconnected from the Vine? How can you lay down your life for your friends today, perhaps through small acts of patience, service, or listening, to fulfill the commandment to love as He loves?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, we thank You for calling us friends and for choosing us to bear fruit that will remain. We thank You for the witness of Saint Matthias, who stepped into his calling with faith and humility. Help us to trust that You know our hearts and that You have appointed us for a specific purpose in Your Kingdom. Grant us the grace to remain in Your love and to find our complete joy in serving one another. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

The Ascension of the Lord
Reading 1 – Acts 1:1-11
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Reading 2 – Ephesians 1:17-23
Gospel – Matthew 28:16-20

On this Ascension Thursday, the scripture readings (Acts 1, Psalm 47, and Matthew 28) invite us to move from wonder to action. Jesus’ return to glory is the fulfillment of His earthly mission and the beginning of ours. St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that Christ has been seated far above every authority, making Him the head of the Church, which is His body. We celebrate today with “great joy,” knowing that our Head has gone where we, His members, hope to follow, and that He has given us the power of the Spirit to continue His work on earth.

SAINTS OF THE DAY | MAY 14TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | May 14th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Matthias, and Saint Michael Garicoits | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-14th/

SAINT MATTHIAS, APOSTLE AND MARTYR: Saint Matthias (1st c.), whose name means “gift of God,” was a faithful follower of Jesus throughout His entire earthly ministry and was among the seventy-two disciples sent out to preach the Good News. After the Ascension, he was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot, ensuring the apostolic college remained a witness to the Resurrection. For over thirty years, Matthias tirelessly evangelized pagans across Judea, Cappadocia, and Ethiopia, reportedly surviving attempts on his life through divine protection before eventually receiving the crown of martyrdom. He was noted by early Church historians for his deep commitment to the mortification of the flesh as a path to holiness.

PRAYER: O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT MICHAEL GARICOITS, PRIEST: Saint Michael (1797–1863), hailed as an “Apostle of the Love of God,” was a French Basque priest and the founder of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bétharram. Born into poverty and having worked as a shepherd boy, he overcame significant financial obstacles to reach the priesthood, where he became a fierce defender of the faith against Jansenism. Michael was an ardent devotee of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacred Heart, introducing frequent communion and dedicated devotions to revive the spiritual life of his people. Despite facing ecclesiastical regulations that hampered his new congregation, he remained a model of humble submission and obedience until his death on Ascension Day.

PRAYER: Loving Saint Michael Garicoits, who gave your life in loving service and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. May your example of humility and obedience guide us to deeper trust in God’s will. Intercede for all those burdened by illness or sorrow, that they may experience the mercy and consolation of Christ. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Matthias, and Saint Michael Garicoits — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR CARPENTERS, TAILORS, REFORMED ALCOHOLICS, TEACHERS, AND THE GRACE OF BEING CHOSEN

On this Feast of Saint Matthias, as we celebrate the mystery of being chosen by God, we offer our petitions through the intercession of the holy witnesses who remained faithful to the end. Lord, we pray for all craftsmen, laborers, and those seeking a new path in life; through the intercession of Saint Matthias (Patron Saint of carpenters, tailors, and reformed alcoholics), bless the work of our hands and grant us the grace to be true witnesses of Your Resurrection in our daily labor. We also pray for those called to serve in Your Church and for those struggling with dependencies; through the intercession of Saint Matthias, we specifically ask for Your strength to rest upon those seeking recovery from alcoholism and protection for those suffering from smallpox. Grant Your divine guidance to the dioceses of Gary and Great Falls-Billings. We pray for a revival of faith and a deeper devotion to Your Most Sacred Heart; through the intercession of Saint Michael Garicoits (Patron Saint of Teachers and the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bétharram), bless all educators and those who form the hearts of the young. Grant us a hunger for the Holy Eucharist and the humility to submit to Your will, even when it is difficult. We pray for the suffering, the marginalized, and the dying; we especially lift up those battling terminal diseases and those who feel abandoned in their pain. May they experience the consolation of Christ’s friendship and the healing power of His love. Finally, we pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed; Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Grant our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and all the Clergy the wisdom of the Apostles to lead Your people into complete joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/a-prayer-for-peace/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY: That Everyone Might Have Food. Pope Leo invites us to pray that no one might lack the food they need and that we might learn to live more responsibly, recognizing that the earth’s resources are a gift for everyone.

(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY | MONTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother. This month invites the faithful to draw closer to Mary through prayer, reflection, and imitation of her virtues especially her humility, obedience, purity, and unwavering faith. As the first and most perfect disciple of Christ, Mary leads us gently but firmly to her Son. Throughout Church history, May has been a time to honor Mary with special devotions such as the Rosary, May Crownings, Marian processions, and prayers like the Litany of Loreto. The Church teaches that Mary, assumed body and soul into Heaven, intercedes for us as Queen of Heaven and Mother of the Church. During this month, we are called to renew our relationship with her and seek her maternal care in our joys, sorrows, and needs. Mary said “yes” to God’s plan with total trust: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her faithful surrender encourages us to say “yes” to God’s will in our own lives. As we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and contemplate her role in salvation history, we grow in our love for her and our desire to follow Christ more closely.

In this beautiful month of blooming flowers, may our hearts also blossom with deeper devotion to the Mother of our Savior. Let us bring her our prayers, our homes, and our lives, asking her to accompany us with her love and protection.

“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

Hail Mary, full of grace! Teach us to love Jesus as you loved Him. Cover us with your mantle of mercy, and help us to walk always in the light of your Son. Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=4

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
We pray for the repose of the gentle souls of our loved ones and souls of all the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏🏽

Thanking God for His love and the gift of this glorious day, we offer Him a prayer of gratitude for the graces of the past month and entrust this month of May to His loving providence. We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we continue this season of Easter joy. May the Resurrection of Your Son help us to seek You in every moment of our lives. May the peace, hope, and steady guidance that flow from the empty tomb shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in the light of the Risen Christ. As we journey onward into this new month, may God bless our families and loved ones, and may His light continue to shine brightly in every home. Let us draw closer to God and be renewed through the joy of the Gospel and generosity to the poor. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a spiritually enriching, most blessed, and grace-filled Easter Season. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Matthias, and Saint Michael Garicoits ~ Pray for us 🙏🏾

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you! Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

A Guide to Catholic Prayer & Faith Resources: Prayers, Devotions, Teachings,and the Liturgical Year | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-prayer-faith-resources/

Catholic Mission & Witness: Foundations, Media Features, Global Outreach and Podcast Interview | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-mission-witness-foundations-media-features-and-global-outreach/

Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/